Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased that the Minister referred to the arbitrary number of 13,000 gardaí. I am not aware of any study, independent or otherwise, of the optimal number. To put it bluntly, the figure of 13,000 is probably more political than for any other reason. When it is available, I would very much welcome an opportunity to debate the Garda Inspectorate's report to which the Minister referred. She hit the nail of the head in terms of civilianisation of the force in the administration work done. Members of An Garda Síochána are strapped to desks much of the time, which is not necessarily the optimal in terms of their ability to carry out policing duties. I recently looked at the county police service in Massachusetts and found it interesting that the vast majority of administrative work in the police force was carried out by non-policing personnel.

My question on the Supplementary Estimate, under subhead A1, relates to the payroll function of An Garda Síochána. A number of figures were identified as a supplementary or extraordinary budget, if one wants to call it that, for ICT services.